The Sinner Read Online Free PDF Page A

of her that could feel was
probably dead already, killed off - not that anyone had noticed
- sometime in the last six months. Her sole concern was how to
make things easier for herself.
    She mustn't fight the water. Jutting into the lake at the far end of
the lido was a small, scrub-covered headland. Once beyond it she
would be hidden from view Then out to the middle of the lake,
duck-diving from the outset. That would sap her strength.
    The radio cassette was belting out a drum solo. It flailed away
at her brain, although she took no notice of it. Holding the apple
firmly in her hand, she felt the nape of her neck prickle and her
shoulder muscles tense, felt her back stiffen and go cold as if she
were lying on some hard, cold surface instead of sitting in balmy
air, felt something like an exceptionally thick thumb force its way
into her mouth, just as it had at Christmas, when Gereon had
meant to give her a special treat.
    Swallowing hard, she took the knife and cut the apple into four
quarters, three of which she deposited on her lap.
    Behind her, a voice she recognized as Alice's said: "It's really hot
stuff."
    "Yes," said the man sitting beside her, "you wouldn't think it of
him today. It was five years ago, of course. That was Frankie's wild
and woolly phase - it only lasted a few weeks. He doesn't like being
reminded of it, but I reckon Ute's right, it's great music - nothing to
be ashamed of. Three friends, they were. A shame they never made
the big time, just played in a cellar. That's Frankie on drums."
    Frankie, friends, cellar, drums ... The words rang briefly in her
head, imprinting themselves on her memory.
    "Were you there at the time?" Alice asked.
    "No, I hadn't met him yet."
    Gereon stretched. He glanced at the piece of apple in her hand.
"He'll never eat all that. You can give me the rest."
    "I'm eating the rest myself," she said. "Then I'm going for
another swim. There's another apple in the bag; you can have it." A last piece of apple! Golden Delicious, the kind she'd loved as a
child. The very thought made her mouth water.

    Out of the corner of her eye she saw the blonde on the blanket sit
up. "Hang on," the woman said, pressing a button on the cassette
player, "I'll wind it on a bit. This is nothing compared to `Tiger's
Song'! You won't hear anything better."
    The dark-haired man rolled over and made another grab for her
arm. Cora saw his face for the first time. It meant nothing to her.
His voice too was just as unfamiliar when lie protested again, more
vehemently this time. "No, Ute, that's enough. Not that, give me
a break!" He sounded very much in earnest, but Ute laughed and
fended him off.
    Cora thought of her house. Her mother-in-law was bound to go
through it with a fine-tooth comb, but she wouldn't find any cause
for complaint. Everything was spick and span. The firm's books were
in order too. No one would be able to say she'd been slapdash.
    She removed the core from the piece of apple and peeled it as
thinly as possible, then handed it to the little boy and picked up the
next piece, intending to peel and core it for herself At that moment
the music started again, even louder than before. Involuntarily, she
glanced sideways. She saw the blonde subside onto her back, grasp
the man's shoulders and pull him down on top of her, saw him
bury his fingers in her hair and adjust her head to a convenient
angle. Then he kissed her. And the drums ...
    The remains of the apple fell to the grass as she jumped up.
Gereon gave a start when she began to shout.
    "Stop it, you filthy swine! Stop it, let go of her! Let go of her!"
    At the first words she hurled herself sideways and fell to her knees.
As the last words left her lips she stabbed the man with the knife.
    Her first thrust caught him in the neck. He gave a startled cry
and swung round, grabbed her wrist and held it for a moment or
two, staring at her. Then he let go and merely went on staring. He
muttered